The Fleece

Our first Christmas Day lunch at The Fleece was a fantastic experience, and the staff did an amazing job. We were greeted warmly at the door and offered a glass of fizz. The decorated tables and festive atmosphere were lovely, and the service was very efficient. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We’d preordered and had place cards showing our choices. One of us is gluten free, and staff made that clear with every course, which was reassuring. Even the good quality crackers and cloth Santa hats at each place were a nice touch, and we got to take the hats home. We all had a brilliant lunch, many thanks.

The food was really good and tasty, though the plates were cold. We’ve been to The Fleece several times before but hadn’t eaten there until now. Our waitress Fia was so happy and friendly, and she knew everything about the menu. Nothing was too much trouble.

We had preordered lunch for twelve people to celebrate my mother’s 96th birthday, and it was a very disappointing experience. The meals came out in batches, with half arriving first and most of the rest taking another 10-15 minutes. The last one, a rare steak, took about 30 minutes. The pork belly was cold; after we sent it back, it came out lukewarm. Chips with two meals were undercooked, and the chicken in the Chicken Milanese was overcooked. We had to ask three times for the dessert we’d ordered in advance. I definitely can’t recommend it.

It had been a while since I’d eaten here, but taking friends for Sunday lunch turned out to be a great experience. Jess from NZ welcomed us with such warmth and enthusiasm, and talked us through the special board. We all remarked on how refreshing that energy was. The food was delicious, and the simple offer of more vegetables and Yorkshires was really appreciated. A lovely team, friendly atmosphere and good food made for an excellent meal.